Science Blogs (316)

I saw a story today about the long-term weightless effects on the human body. Astronauts returning after months aboard the International Space Station had swollen optic nerves, slightly flattened eyeballs that caused changes in vision. Some developed blood clots.
If you recall in science class, some of the veins in the legs have one-way valves called the venous pump. Researchers are finding blood flow while in orbit becomes irregular and fluids that are normally held down by gravity now float to the head, increasing pressure to the skull.

I guess they need to invent the gravity machine that was on the Starship Enterprise so no one goes floating around the bridge!

Fully 25 % estimates of all known species (metazoan), and 40% of their kin in the class Insecta. Sure, those colorful hard protective second retractable wings (elytra) may have played a part. And possessing the miracle of metamorphosis can't hurt. Those larval stages can bore through even the toughest tree barks. Protection then through the harsher seasons, and from most clever predators, only to emerge as adults in prolific reproductive/migratory life stages. But so what? Other orders of Insecta enjoy similar evolutionary adaptations. No, oh my brilliant CS friends, these Coleopteran marvels somehow have figured out much more in the struggle for life. Several threads of evidence now converge to show how, as with some ruminant mammals, these insects can digest all sorts of plant based very tough items, many based on the strongest cellulose polymers. But ready for the kickers here? Seems as though this huge survival trick was borrowed from bacteria, and "lower" plants, such as fungi. And accomplished, again somehow, by incorporating the DNA of these other life forms, into their own genomes. But more amazing, is that these little friends, again somehow, may have done so 100 large, VERY large, years before even the dinosaurs shuffled onto the scene. And they are still here, in strong numbers, VERY strong, some 60 million years after the dinosaurs sauntered OFF the scene. Sure, bacteria, using quasi " mating" techniques, can swap genetic material. One factor behind the growth of resistance to most commercial antibiotics. And deep shite for us all. But how the heck can the beetles have done so? Let's hear from the marginally educated ignoramuses here who will complain that a post like this, as with religion, and politics, so important to many, and definitely revealing in the great search for mates, is out of place. Pathetic. Revealing. Not unexpected. Pretty soon these mini minds will begin to call for a ban on flirting-on a dating site-of all places----can't make this stuff up folks.

Ya just have to notice things, then form hypotheses, and sometimes to experiment to test them, and thereby developed better theories. The scientific method, over rated, but still of merit. Now and again, usually when nature calls him, sorely delayed by my chasing the hotties here on CS, Bravo won't instantly devour one of the disgusting bone like treats I give him most mornings. Instead, he marches about the house, sneakily, Mr. R., looking for places to hide the treat. Mind you, hide from whom, as I'm the only other being here in the VIERK mansion, apart from the rare field mouse? Or reduvid bug. Why hide it from me, when the hiding places are never very cryptic, and I am the one who gave it to him? The main hypothesis is that what we see here is a minor retreat to former wild pack behaviors. Even though these may be thousands of generations old, and no longer of much value. If you get the first tasty bone from the kill, better make you and it scarce, especially if the big dog is nearby. But how to test this hypothesis? A theory, a theory, ..... my kingdom for a theory.

The fearsome VIERK/Swedish Political Pathology King Olaf/Nobel Memorial Research Institutet may have stumbled onto a partial cure for severe types of Trump Derangement-Hilary Deficit Syndromes. (TD-HDS). Quite painful, and costly in time, money and possible harmful side effects, but so far, 92 out of 100 hithertoo hopeless clinical trial cases have had their scores on the proprietary political GOM (grounded open mindedness meter) raised by a full 75%. I would give details, oh my most deserving CS comrades, but we may be wired in for the next Nobel Prize in Physiology. However, for those who pay close attention to my astute blogs, I hinted at a number of hypotheses on target to the cures. All well within the past fortnight, cherubim. But for private paying patients, we do make exceptions, if the price is right. Why change the usual approach to private pay health care? Please call the Institutet at 044-69-NIXCLUBCOUP, for special offer details on our generous payment plans. Live operators are standing by. Ever onward, through the fog, for science, and the green back, is our motto.

You should see the philosophers and neuroscientists fret over trying to understand how it could possibly have come about. I think it's a no brainer, no pun intended. Given so many trillions of adaptable neuronal connections in us (and squid/octopi, just while we are on the subject,), so much evolutionary time, strong natural selection for adaptive survival by environments---It's likely that MANY consciousnesses evolved---not just for humans. Next easy task?

as I lovingly admire the reflection in my mirror.... But seriously, folks, here in the US northeast, so close ooooouuuuut there to OH Canada, EH?...even our evergreens shed a bit in the Autumn wind and storms. But it's the fall of the leaves, after the brilliant shows of color change, that hint, once agoin, how perfectly timed these changes seem. All entirely so that I can rake in more comfortable weather. However, our ecologist friends remind us that, what we see as beauty, beautifully choreographed hand in glove interrelatedness between, say weather and the well timed fall of leaves, has a brutal story as well. Countless generations of apparent mismatches, in these regards, with the demise of individuals, that finally yield so many links, on a species level. And, finally is the wrong word, as it continues. Sure, some groups can have enormously long runs, as with the angiosperms, many insects, and the dinosaurs. But in time, the ecological grim reaper calls us all. Mammals, also here for eons, take note.

Tagged: Scientiferous x moody blue

... One tiny byte of Mystery can be removed if we come to see that the System itself is rolling UP & winding down. We are, of course, referring to the System of the World, the arrow of Time & hot law 2; Entropy.
Consideration of Earth, Air, Water, Fire ..along with grammar, rhetoric, syntax and Number ) )
gives us a fat window of looky into pagan Astronomy / astro-Logic..) ) which runs parallel to increasing
human presumption & error .. ) ) ) isn't that right, Team Houston ?
... The $implified version of Street Level Astronomy deals in terms the simple-minded can Grip.
Surface traction of Friday night, Satur-day Tailgate, Sun-day Rituals, Monday blues.
Said system is wearing out..) ) but until then, enjoy the show......
* * * part 2. Always leave the record player on..- Uncle Joe, 2019

Doing so will accelerate entropy, invoke Parkinson, and create many jobs in the manufacturing $ector.
do you know what eYe mean ? I trust my drift will generally exceed your get....ball point radio trumps standard FM jargon-monoxide and offers a truufy Rx for mind and spirit... let us count the Ways....
70 } Turn back the hands of Time / T Davis ........ 72 } Time in a bottle / Croce
....... For the good times / Ray Price ............................ Ventura Highway / America
..... child in Time / deep purple ................................. Reelin in the Years / Steely Dan
***** 73 } kodachrome / simon
.................................. T I M E / p Floyd
................................ photograph / Starr
74 } Don't let the sun go down on me / Elton John
..... .... down down / status Quo
........ Sundown / Lightfoot..... ) ) ) and then along came METAL ....
* * * * * * Mental Funeral / autopsy.................. Seven Churches / possessed
............. Cause of Death / Obituary ................. Ram it Down / Judas Priest
............. Left Hand Path / Entombed .............. the End Complete / Obit.

In this month's Scientific American, these issues get discussed. Sadly, the whole article focuses on classical null hypothesis rejection using p values, or "confidence" intervals. Alternatives are discussed, such as Baysian approaches, or a new gimmick, how things don't seem right by analogy with repeated coin tossing. I wish the writer had had more knowledge of research methodology, including various study approaches, and analytical biases. Current approaches merely attempt to rule out errors based on chance. The real meat of the process comes with discussion of results. This would include: Degrees of strength of findings, dose response trends, analyses of biases and efffect modification, appropriateness of study designs, biological/physical/chemical coherence, funding/publication biases,----and how results fit with existing evidence in building stronger theory of any scientifically answerable questions. But it does touch on how hard it is for humans to think outside of existing theoretical boxes. Yet ignores how all this relates to crafting real policy in the real world.

I went for a few months without flying drones. The model I purchased a few years ago, uses GPS guidance with the ability to shoot high quality 4K video. My intent was to study and pass the FAA Part 107 test and be certified to fly drones commercially... as in making money legally doing aerial photography. While it's on my list, other things keep getting in the way!

Three weeks ago, I connected with friends who fly for sport in a huge public park with a section off to one side for us to enjoy model aircraft. I did 10 minutes of flying but for some unknown reason, the video I recorded had a green tint. I suspect there could be some corrosion on the connector to the camera that needs attention.

Checking YouTube to see if anyone else had the same trouble, I came across a video with a drone that uses a ducted fan design instead of the conventional propellers.
While ducted fan technology isn't new to airplanes or drones, the inventor believes his design and shape of the propulsion tubes is unique. Therefore, he has applied for a patent.

His idea came about for safety as drones can be dangerous if they strike someone. The development of large scale quadcopters (drones) used to carry people also shares the same drawback. Some of the prototype designs I've seen all have blades in locations that could be strike someone nearing the airship.

Ever wonder what the shape of the earth is? The six paintings of the earth are artists renditions.